"No lights, no music, no crowds." That is how the Cumming Country Fair & Festival describes two hours on Sunday, Oct. 11. From 2 to 4 p.m. that day, the rides run sensory-friendly for Special Population Day. Only one day on the schedule has that window. The same holds for most of the fair's 2026 offers. Each one belongs to a single date, often a single hour.
The fair runs Oct. 8 through Oct. 18 at the Cumming Fairgrounds. The gate price is $10 for ages 11 and up, and children 10 and under get in free. On paper, that is the whole price list. In practice, the official daily specials page gives each date a different deal, and a family can pay full price or close to nothing depending on which day they go.
Eleven days, each priced for a different visitor
The daily specials page reads like a guest list. Here is how the 2026 calendar breaks down:
- Thursday, Oct. 8: Free admission for everyone on opening day, courtesy of Northside Hospital Forsyth. Unlimited-ride wristbands, which the fair calls Pay One Price, are $25.
- Friday, Oct. 9: Wristbands are $30.
- Saturday, Oct. 10: Admission and rides are free from 10 to 11 a.m. After that, $35 wristbands go on sale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and stay valid until close.
- Sunday, Oct. 11: Senior Citizen Day, with free admission all day for ages 55 and over. Seven non-perishable canned goods for Meals by Grace earn one free admission. With the school coupon, ages 18 and under get free admission and rides from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Wristbands are $30.
- Monday, Oct. 12: Student Night, with free admission for ages 18 and under. Wristbands are $25.
- Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Thursday, Oct. 15: Wristbands are $25.
- Friday, Oct. 16: Wristbands are $30.
- Saturday, Oct. 17: Same setup as Oct. 10, with a free hour from 10 to 11 a.m., then $35 wristbands.
- Sunday, Oct. 18: Hero's Day, with free admission for active, reserve, and retired military veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders with valid ID. The canned-goods offer and the 12:30 to 2 p.m. school coupon window come back. Wristbands are $30.
The pattern is simple. Wristbands cost the least Monday through Thursday, cost more on Friday and Sunday, and peak on Saturday. The free admission offers go the other way. Most of them land on weekends and are tied to a person's age, job, or a canned-goods donation. That leaves the midweek nights of Oct. 13 to 15 as the plainest days on the calendar, with the lowest wristband price and no special offer at the gate.
What a wristband actually replaces
Rides are priced at $1.25 per ticket, or in bundles of $20 for 21 tickets, $50 for 55, and $100 for 120. Each ride takes more than one ticket. The table puts the options next to each other.
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Single ride ticket | $1.25 | Part of one ride |
| Smallest bundle | $20 | 21 tickets |
| Midweek wristband, Oct. 13 to 15 | $25 | Unlimited rides until close |
| Saturday wristband, Oct. 10 or 17 | $35 | Unlimited rides until close |
| Saturday free hour | $0 | Admission and rides, 10 to 11 a.m. |
Since every ride takes several tickets, the $20 bundle runs out fast. The $25 midweek wristband costs $5 more and has no limit. On Saturdays, the gap between the $20 bundle and the $35 wristband is wider. That makes the free 10 a.m. hour worth the most to anyone who can get there when the gates open.
Advance admission is $7 plus a $1.43 fee through Oct. 7, which works out to $8.43 against the $10 gate price. As of today, Oct. 5, that window has two days left. Two more details matter at the gate. The fair has no re-entry, and it takes cash and credit cards, with ATMs on site. Parking is free. Pets, coolers, and alcohol are not allowed.
Admission includes the entertainment and ground acts. The fair's attractions page labels the Zerbini Family Circus "New for 2026." The lineup also includes Rosaire's Royal Racers, Oscar the Robot, the North Georgia Petting Zoo, Jay Mattioli Electrifying Magic Illusion, the Ready, Go Dog Show, and the Fireguy Show. The arena series lists 406 FMX, Micro Wrestling, and Bull Riding. One attraction costs extra. The Four Scythes Haunted Attraction is $20, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and other local charities. The City of Cumming lists this year's theme as "Fairs, Family & Freedom."
Saturday, Oct. 10, when both venues fill up
The fair's hours explain how Cumming City Center fits around it. Monday through Thursday, the gates open at 4 p.m. and close at 10. Friday runs 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday 12:30 to 10 p.m. BigTickets and Discover Forsyth list a 9 p.m. Sunday close, so check the night before if a late Sunday matters to you.
Saturday, Oct. 10, is the one day both calendars run at full speed:
- 10 to 11 a.m.: Free admission and free rides at the Fairgrounds.
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The $35 unlimited-ride wristband is on sale, valid until close.
- Noon: The listed start of the free Georgia vs. Alabama watch party at Lou Sobh Amphitheater at Cumming City Center, presented by Foresite Group. The event page also says "Time TBA," so confirm closer to the day.
- 6 p.m.: The Little Roy and Lizzy Show at the fair. Concerts are free with admission.
- 7:30 p.m. ET: Kickoff on the big screen at City Center.
The fair's best deal comes at the start of the day, and the game comes at the end. A household that wants both could go to the fair in the morning and watch the game at City Center at night, without either plan getting in the way of the other.
The hours the fair leaves open
On weekdays the fair doesn't open until 4 p.m., and City Center's October events fill some of that time. The third annual Community Touch-A-Truck runs Friday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. at City Center, sponsored by STORsquare. It ends at the same hour the fair opens for its $30 Friday night.
After the fair closes Oct. 18, City Center has the rest of October:
- Thursday, Oct. 22: Haunted Cruise-In Halloween Edition, 6 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 24: Howl-oween, 4 to 8 p.m., with pet-friendly trick-or-treating, adoptable pets, vendors, and a storefront decorating contest.
- Saturday, Oct. 31: TORQ: Fall 2026, the first TORQ Events car show at City Center, noon to 3 p.m., with free admission and parking.
Howl-oween stands out next to the fair, which doesn't allow pets on its grounds. The dog-friendly part of Cumming's October happens at City Center the week after the fair ends.
November brings both venues back together
The two calendars meet again in mid-November. The Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Exposition runs at the Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. That Saturday morning, the Hometown Heroes 5K & Fun Run starts at City Center from 8 a.m. to noon. The Forsyth County Fire Department organizes it to benefit B.A.D.G.E. Glitter Star Fest comes before both on Sunday, Nov. 8, with music and art supporting the American Cancer Society's pediatric cancer work. Its page lists both 4 to 8 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., so check the end time before you go.
The following weekend lines up the same way. Nights of Lights opens at 235 Castleberry Road on Friday, Nov. 20, and runs through Dec. 27. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The next day, Saturday, Nov. 21, the free City Center Holiday Market fills 423 Canton Road from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will have more than 100 vendors, Santa, live holiday music, and a Kids Zone. The market closes at 6 p.m., an hour after the lights come on at the Fairgrounds.
Where to stop in between
Some new and soon-to-open businesses fit around this calendar. Jeff's Bagel Run opened its first Forsyth County shop on Oct. 2 at 5610 Bethelview Road. Its daily hours are 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. That means it closes before the fair opens on any weekday, so it works best on a Saturday ahead of the free 10 a.m. hour. Maepole, the fast-casual Southern bowl concept from Athens, is planned for Bethelview and Castleberry roads in late 2026. It will have the brand's first drive-thru pickup lane.
At City Center, The Back Nine has indoor golf simulators, leagues, lessons, and private events. Pieces & Peaches finished its move to a new spot in the development this summer. Simple Man Distillery is still listed as "COMING SOON!" Tavern off the Green, the Louisiana-leaning sports tavern at 400 Vision Drive, soft-opened Sept. 11. Forsyth County News reported on Sept. 14 that it had paused service with plans to reopen. Check its current hours before you plan a game night there.
One parking note for fair week. In June, the City Council approved a $658,110 contract with Jasper Grading to tear down the former police department building across Castleberry Road from the Fairgrounds and build a parking lot for fair and event patrons. The building came down in July. No published update says whether the lot will be ready by Oct. 8. Plan on the fair's usual free parking until the city confirms otherwise.
At Patricia Mickle, we keep up with Cumming's calendar the way neighbors do, one date at a time. If you have questions about the Castleberry Road area, or want a local view on how the City Center corridor is changing, let's connect.
